Engraving machine pattern and copy character therefor



July 29, 1941. p PRE|$ 1 2,251,166

ENGRAVING MAQHINE PATTERN AND COPY CHARACTERS THEREFOR Filed Oct. 2, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR r772 ff'f/J' BY Z A ORNEY July 29, 1941. H.P. PREIS 2,251,166 I ENGRAVING MACHINE PATTERN AND COPY CHARACTER S THEREFOR Filed Oct. 2, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEINTOR 71 Pr: 71 I BY 4 AT ORNEY Patented July 29, 1941 ENGRAVING MACHINE PATTERN AND COPY CHARACTEE THEREFOR Hans r. Preis, Irvington, N. J.; Elizabeth J. Preis executrix of said Hans P. Preis, deceased Application October 2, 1939, Serial No. 297,539

14 Claims. 1 ((11. 90-62) This invention relates to engraving machines and has particular reference to such machines wherein the pattern or model is traced by a stylus,

the movement of the stylus being transmitted to a cutting tool for reproduction of the design on copy letters therefor embodying novel features of assembly and construction.

It is customary to provide the engraving machine pattern plate with bevelled channels with which correspondingly bevelled bases of the copy characters or letters are adapted to have sliding,

keying engagement. The bases of copy characters designed for engagement with bevelled channels of the pattern plate of a certain predetermined curvature are not adapted for use with channels of different curvature or with straightline channels. Even in the use of copy characters whose bases have been designed for use with a certain predetermined channel, the characters become wedged if imperfectly inserted or aligned or if there are slight inaccuracies in design.

An object of the invention is to provide a pattern for engraving machines wherein the copy characters are provided with bases so constructed as to adapt them for use, with equal eflicacy, on patterns having channels of various curvatures as well as on patterns having straight-line channels.

Another object of the invention is to provide a pattern having copy characters adapted to be removably secured thereto in a rapid, economical manner, providing a maximum degree of adaptability and adjustment to conform to requirements.

Another object is to provide an engraving machine pattern wherein the copy character channels are not bevelled and the copy characters are positively and accurately aligned inthe channels and may be readily removed therefrom after the pattern has served its purpose.

Another object is to provide a copy character for engraving machine patterns, the copy character being so designed as to provide an effective face area of the usual dimensions with a base narrower than normally required, resulting in a considerable saving in space required for the copy characters and enabling more compact work to be attained.

A further object of the invention is to provide a copy character embodying a compound angle which assures ample support for the face portion of the copy character and provides an effective guide for the tracing stylus, the angles being more fully described hereinafter and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein like letters and figures represent like parts.

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of an engraving machine pattern embodying my invention,

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view thereof taken on line 22 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of another form of guide member embodying my invention,

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of the copy character shown in Fig. 5, taken at an angle in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 5,

Fig. 5 is an enlarged top plan view of the copy character,

Fig. 6 is an enlarged top plan View of a steel stamp reproduction made from the copy character shown in Fig. 5, pursuant to my invention,

Fig. 7 is a bottom plan View of the copy character, with an adhesive applied thereto.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view of a pattern plate with a copy character positioned in a channel therein, showing a weight, indicated as W, superimposed on the copy character,

Fig. 9 is a top plan View of a copy character aligned in a straight-line channel in the pattern plate,

Fig. 1G is a side elevational view of the copy character taken from the point indicated by the arrow, Fig. 5, and

Fig. 11 is a similar view of the copy character, showing the manner in which the tracing stylus is vertically moved along the upper angle and into a corner of the copy character, to obtain accurate reproduction of the sharp corners in the steel stamp reproduction shown in Fig. 6.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 shows an engraving machine pattern embodying my invention, comprising the plate 26 provided with channels 2| for the positioning of copy characters 25, the latter being provided on the undersurfaces 23 of their bases 24 with protuberances 22 adapted to be freely received in said channels. The protuberance 22 is preferably circular and of smaller diameter than the cross section of the channel so that and the copy character 25 may therefore be roacters 25 are positioned in the channel 2| in predetermined spaced relation to represent words or any other matter to be reproduced.

In the form of the invention shown in Fig. 1, wherein plate 23 is provided with circular channels 2|, the plate is provided witha median pin 26 on which aligning bar 21, is adapted to be slidably arranged, the bar being preferably of fiat, elongated form as shown in Fig. 1 and provided with slots 28, 29, 3G (or an aligning bar of another form may be used, for example bar 31 shown in Fig. 3, having a single elongated slot 38) adapted to receive pin 25, to position the aligning bar thereon and enable the latter to have limited longitudinal and radial movement thereon for aligning the copy characters 25 in the pattern channels, as presently described.

The copy character 25 may be made of any desired plastic or other material; a coating 33 of an adhesive or cement is applied to the undersurface 23 of the flat, rectangular base 24 thereof as shown in Fig. 7. The adhesive 33 is preferably oi a liquid type that may be applied by brush or otherwise to substantially cover the undersurface of the copy character base as shown in Fig. '7; the adhesive is preferably of a type that hardens shortly after exposure. ter the copy characters have thus been treated they are inserted in the pattern channels and then by merely selectively bringing the copy characters into abutting registry with the aligning bar 2'! as shown in Fig. l, the characters 25 will be exactly aligned radially in the pattern channels. If desired the adhesive coating 33 may be formed integral with the copy character instead of being separately applied thereto. Where a straight-line pattern is desired, the plate 26 is provided with straight line channels 34 (Fig. 9) in which the copy character with adhesive applied thereto is positioned as described above; the aligning bar used in conjunction with straight line channels is a flat member 35 arranged on the plate for parallel longitudinal movement relative to channel 34 as indicated by the arrows (Fig, 9); the copy character 25 is brought into abutting registry with the aligning bar 35 to correctly align the copy character on the plate.

After the copy characters 25 have been positioned in the respective channels in plate as above described, a weight W (Fig. 8) is superimposed on the copy characters for the short period of time required for the hardening of adhesive 33, after which the weight is removed and the pattern is complete and ready for use.

The pattern 20 is obviously adapted for a number of uses, including its use in an engraving machine. In the latter case, the pattern is clamped in the copy holder of the engraving machine in any conventional or desired manner and reproductions can then be made therefrom by means of a tracing stylus, pantograph and cutter, in a manner well known to those skilled in this art. After the pattern has served its purpose, the

copy characters may be removed therefrom by applying an adhesive-removing solution; the copy characters may then be used for another pattern, the plate 20 being available for the making of another pattern. Pursuant to my invention as outlined above, by providing plate 20 with circular (Fig. 1), oval, straight-line (Fig. 9) or other channels, the copy characters will appear in any desired arrangement on the pattern, the same copy characters being adapted for use in connection with various channels. The channels are, as shown in the drawings, straight-edge channels, which can be economically cut in plate 20 as desired. The copy character 25 of Fig. 5 is used for the making of the steel stamp reproduction shown in Fig, 6 by means of an engraving machine pantograph mechanism wherein the tracing stylus 40 traces the copy character and a cutting tool reproduces that movement, on a predetermined scale, on the steel stamp in a manner well known to those skilled in this art. It will be noted that my invention thus enables a three-dimension reproduction to be obtained in which the sharp corners of the copy character are exactly reproduced in the work,

While my invention is adapted for use in connection with copy characters of any surface configuration, I have shown in the drawings and will hereafter describe a copy character of my invention of special surface configuration.

In order to assure an accurate three-dimensional reproduction of the copy character, including sharp corners, I have designed the copy character, as shown in Figs. 5 and 10, with a compound acute anglethe lower angle 42 being 20 or less, the upper angle 43 being 30 or more. Copy characters so constructed have a face portion 25 of relatively great width at the top 44 (Fig. 5) but comparatively narrow at the bottom 45. I'his is a very valuable arrangement, as it enables the close positioning of the copy characters 25 where desired for conserving space without sacrificing width at the top of the face portion of the copy characters. I have found an angle of 20 for the lower angle 45 and 35 for the upper angle 44 to be most satisfactory and practical. The reproduction is made by using a tracing stylus having a point of the degree which it is desired to have for the reproduction 36.

For the upper angle of the reproduction 36 this degree may be the same as or higher than that of the upper angle 43 of the copy character according to the tracing stylus used. Thus, by making the upper angle 43 of 35 (for example), by using a tracing stylus of 35 or higher (and I have found the practical range to be between 35 and 65) a reproduction can be made of the degree of the tracing stylus. The reproduction may be made in one stage as described or may be in two stages. If the reproduction is made in two stages, the second or finishing stage is that wherein the tracing stylus used is of the degree of the reproduction desired while in the first stage, for the purpose of rough cutting for depth, a tracing stylus of an angle preferably 10 less than that of the upper angle 43 is used, so that in the first stage, the angle in the reproduction corresponding with and of the same degree as that of the tracing stylus is obtained. Likewise, in the case of the lower angle 45, which is 20 or less, the lower angle reproduction is made by using a tracing stylus having a point of the degree which it is desired to have for the reproduction 36. The lower angle 45 being 20 or less assures practical and substantial support for the copy character; the upper angle 43 being 30 or more enables the tracing stylus 40 to be moved upwardly into the very ends of the corner angles of the copy characters as shown in Fig. 11, enabling the corner angles to be accurately reproduced in the work as shown in Fig. 6.

The foregoing disclosure is by way of example to illustrate my invention; changes in construction, combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. An engraving machine pattern comprising a plate provided with a channel, and a copy character provided with a protuberance for registry with said channel said protuberance being of smaller diameter than the cross-section of the channel to enable the protuberance to have free but limited movement in the channel for fixing the position of the copy character on the plate.

2. An engraving machine pattern comprising a plate provided with a channel, a copy character provided with a protuberance for registry with said channel said protuberance being of smaller diameter than the cross-section of the channel to enable the protuberance to have free but limited movement in the channel for fixing the position of the copy character on the plate, and means for securing the copy character to the plate.

3. An engraving machine pattern comprising a plate provided with a channel, a copy character provided with a protuberance for registry with said channel, and guide means in registry with the plate and copy character to align the latter on the plate.

4. An engraving machine pattern comprising a plate provided with a channel, a copy character freely positioned therein, and a guide member slidably arranged on said plate adapted to engage said copy character to accurately align same on said plate.

5. An engraving machine pattern comprising a plate, a copy character positioned thereon, a pin on said plate, and an aligning bar provided with a slot receiving said pin, said aligning bar being adapted to have abutting engagement with said copy character to align same on said plate.

6'. An engraving machine pattern comprising a plate, a copy character positioned thereon and provided with an adhesive coating to secure the same thereto, and an aligning bar positioned on said plate and adapted to have abutting engagement with said copy character to align same on said plate.

7. A copy character comprising a base, and a copy character thereon Iormed of a compound acute angle, the lower angle being 20 or less, the upper angle being 30 or more.

8. A copy character comprising a base, and a copy character thereon formed of a compound acute angle, the lower angle being 20 and the upper angle being 35.

9. An engraving machine pattern comprising a plate, a copy character freely positioned thereon, .and a guide member slidably arranged on said plate adapted to engage said copy character to accurately align same on said plate.

10. A copy character for a channelled engraving machine pattern plate, said copy character being provided with a base portion, a downwardly tapered protuberance on said base portion, said protuberance being of smaller diameter than the cross-section of the channel of said plate, enabling the protuberance to have free but limited movement in said channel for fixing the position of the copy character on the plate.

11. A copy character for a channelled engraving machine pattern plate, said copy character being provided with a base portion, a protuberance on said base portion, said protuberance being of smaller diameter than the cross-section of the channel of said plate, enabling the protuberance to have free but limited movement in said channel for fixing the position of the copy character on the plate.

12. A copy character for a channelled engraving machine pattern plate, said copy character being provided with a base portion, a protuberance on said base portion, said protuberance being of smaller diameter than the cross-section of the channel of said plate, enabling the protuberance to have free but limited movement in said channel for fixing the position of the copy character on the plate, and means on said base portion adapted to engage the plate to secure the base portion thereto.

13. An engraving machine pattern comprising a plate provided with a channel, a copy character provided with a base portion having a protuberance for registry with said channel, guide means in registry with the plate and copy character to align the latter on the plate, and means on said base portion adapted to engage the plate to secure the base portion thereto in aligned position.

lei. A copy character for a channelled engraving machine pattern plate, said copy character being provided with a base portion, a protuberance on said base portion, said protuberance being of smaller diameter than the cross-section of the channel of said plate, enabling the protuberance to have free but limited movement in said channel for f xing the position of the copy character on the plate, and adhesive means on said base portion adapted to engage the plate to secure the base portion thereto.

HANS P. PRE'IS. 

